New insurance categories for total loss vehicles were introduced from October 1, 2017 to help keep dangerous crash-damaged vehicles off the road.
The new set of codes replaced the previous A, B, C and D write-off categories with new classes to reflect the increasingly complex repairs of new cars, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which coordinates the codes.
Complex repairs have made it harder for insurers and body shops to determine how to safely fix cars and the new classes place greater emphasis on the condition of the vehicle rather than repair costs, so that vehicles which should be scrapped won’t be sent back on to the road.
The previous A, B, C, D classes have been replaced by the following:
- A: Scrap
- B: Break
- S: Structurally damaged repairable
- N: Non-structurally damaged repairable
Category A
SCRAP only. These vehicles are deemed not suitable to be repaired and must be crushed, without any parts being removed, at an Authorised Treatment Facility (such as Allparts). A Certificate of Destruction is created to notify the DVLA with the information also recorded with the HPI.
Category B
BREAK for recycled parts. These vehicles are deemed not suitable for repair. Usable parts from these vehicles can be recycled, provided that the body shell is destroyed. Like Category A vehicles, only ATFs such as Allparts can handle and process vehicles in this category.
Category S
REPAIRABLE vehicles which have sustained damage to any part of the structural frame or chassis and the insurer/self-insured owner has decided not to repair the vehicle. These vehicles can, however, be sold on for repair and legally returned to the road, often at very attractive cost.
Category N
REPAIRABLE vehicles which have not sustained damage to the structural frame or chassis and the insurer/self-insured owner has decided not to repair the vehicle. These vehicles are typically sold for repair, and are understandably more attractive to potential purchasers.
Allparts specialises in sourcing repairable vehicles direct from insurance companies; our current stock of vehicles is listed here and can be inspected at our Recycling Centre in Exeter.
